Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 281: what you’re looking at

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| Pe rr re tr 268 surprised: but I hastened to say to them, “ You, my dear friends, have nothing to precipitate your departure; and we may soon meet again.” f then inguired of the farmer as to the best means of getting across to Ajaccio. He offered that one of his sons should drive me in their chaise- cart to the nearest inland town, which was about seven miles off, and where I could procure a post- chaise to convey me for the remainder of my jour- ney. This proposal I thankfully accepted,—adding that I was prepared to start so soon as the vehicle itself could be gotten in readiness. On leaving the breakfast-table, Durazzo fol- lowed me; and drawing me aside into another room, he said with mingled sorrow and reproach- fulness, “‘ Your departure, my dear Wilmot, is ex- ceedingly precipitate.” “JT will deal with you frankly, Durazzo,” I an- swered. ‘‘ Your generosity incessantly revives the one topic on which I am decided; and I go hence to leave the field completely open for your pro- ceedings. ‘To one of your experience it would be almost insulting to proffer any advice relative to the caution which must be used in removing the | 33 treasure: but if you permit me *“ By all means, Wilmot, favour me with your advice,” said Durazzo. ‘ How would you counsel me to act P” “JT should advise you to remain here until to- morrow morning, when you can leave at about the same hour as that at which I am now going to take my own departure. You had better name Bastia as your destination : for if you said Ajaccio, if would naturally seem strange that we did not all leave together. The chaise-cart can convey you to the nearest town on your route: there you ¢an remain for the day; and in the evening, when the dusk has set in, you can retrace your steps to the ruins of the monastery. I merely throw out these hints for your consideration: but perhaps your own experience and judgment may enable you to improve upon the plan.” “ No—I shall adopt your counsel,” answered Durazzo. “ But once more, my dear Wilmot, and for the last time us “T entreat you to recur not to the topic on which my resolution is so unalterably taken! And now, my dear Durazzo,” I continued, “as we are about to part, let me with the utmost sincerity wish you all possible health and happiness !—may prosperity attend upon you—and may your future career be one of uninterrupted bliss in the pos- session of your Leonora! We may perhaps meet again: but if not, remember that I shall always be glad to receive tidings from you. Between this and November next I know not well where you can write to me, inasmuch as during this in- terval I shall most probably be a bird of passage over the Continent. But after November, if you will direct your letters to me at the General Post Office in London, they will be sure to rejch me. And now, my friend, farewell !” “Farewell, Wilmot—farewell, my dear friend!” answered Durazzo, embracing me. “ Never shall I forget you! As for my future career, rest as- sured that it shall be one calculated to atone for the past. Farewell, Wilmot!—and may heaven bless you!” We were both deeply moved as we thus ex- changed our adieux ; and the chaise-cart being now Ey TCR cae we iy JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. —— ready, the instant of separation had arrived. I bade a friendly farewell to the young page: I ex. pressed my most grateful thanks to the iarmer anid his family for their hospitality ; and I likewise took leave of Signor Leone. I ascended into the vehicle, which the farmer’s eldest son was to drive to the nearest town; and thus L took my departure from that homestead. In about an hour we reached the town, where I separated from the farmer’s son,— who ‘resolutely but respectiully retused the remu- neration I would have iorced upon him: but I made up my mind to remit from Ajaccio some token of my gratitude to the lad’s fumily. I procured a post. chaise, and in the afternoon reached the Cos sican capital in safety. I took up my quarters at the principal hotel ; and my first care was to go forth and make such purchases as were absolutely necessary. ‘The cir- cular letter of credit had been so well secured in my pocket-book at the time o. the shipwreck, that though it had got wet by my immersion, its con- tents were far froin obliterated on its being dried at the fire at the farm-house. I was thus enabled to procure a supply of ready money at a Banker’s in Ajaccio; and my orders were speedily given to such tradesmen as it was necessary to deal with for the re-equipment of my wardrobe. I also pur- chased some presents for the farmer and his famEy's : and despatched them by the readiest means of con- veyance. In the evening, at the hotel, when dining in the coffee-room, I got into conversation with an intelligent Corsican geatleman; and from motives of passing curiosity, I questioned him relative to the Land Commission that was sitting in that capital, I pace mentioned that I had recently fallen in with Signor Leone, the claimant to the patrimony of St. Bartholomew : but I did not however say where 1 thus met him. The Corsican appeared to be well informed in respect to the merits of the case, so far as it could be yet known. “ That Signor Leone will succeed in establishing his claim,” observed the gentleman, “there are con- flicting opinions. It is perfectly certain that the Commissioners will decide according to the legal evidence, and not according to what may be termed the actual merits of the case. Thus, if the Monte d’Oro claimant shall be enabled to prove that the Genoese authorities veritably and actually granted the St. Bartholomew estate at the time to his fierce ancestor, the Commissioners will not dispute the justice of that grant: they are not appointed to judge the equity ‘of the question, but merely to decide according to the documents placed before them. ‘Thus any record of such grant that can be ferreted out, will be held as possessing the validity of a title-deed ; and the case will be given against Signor Leone. But if on the other hand no such record can be discovered, then the Monte d’Oro claimant will lose the cause.’ “But I am given to understand,” I said, “that the family of Monte d’Oro has become utterly extinct—that there is no living represen- tative & “On the contrary,” interrupted the Corsican gentleman: “there is every reason to believe that the lineal descendants of the Count of Monte d’Oro are stiJl in existence.” “Indeed!” I exclaimed, with some degree of astonishment. ‘Signor Leone assured me the | | | oOo (GC <S va a (EO)